Santos de Cartier

Santos de Cartier by Cartier is a masculine-leaning eau de toilette from 1981 in the designer price tier. It opens with lavender, bergamot, petitgrain and thyme, moves into geranium, carnation, clary sage and patchouli and dries down to leather, sandalwood, oakmoss and amber. Expect around 8 hours of wear, and it projects strongly.

Notes, explained

Opening

Lavender Herbal, clean, slightly medicinal. Barbershop in one note.
Bergamot Sharp citrus with a faint bitter edge. The opening of about half of all men's fragrances.
Petitgrain Bitter twigs and leaves of the orange tree. Dry and a little green.
Thyme Dry, sharp kitchen herb. Bracing and slightly antiseptic.

Heart

Geranium Rosy and minty at once. Reads masculine more often than not.
Carnation Spicy, clove-like floral. Old-school and a bit peppery.
Clary Sage Softer, sweeter sage with an ambery undertone. Warm and herbal.
Patchouli Damp earth and dark chocolate. Either you love it or it's your least favourite note.

Dry-down

Leather Smoky, dry and a bit animal. Can be a new jacket or an old saddle.
Sandalwood Creamy, milky wood. Soft and almost edible.
Oakmoss Damp forest floor. Bitter, green and the backbone of every chypre.
Amber Warm, golden and resinous. Not a real material — a blend that glows.

Smells like this

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